Mallet for playing percussion musical instrument



Sept. 22, 1959 w. E. SODERBERG 2,905,043

MALLET FOR PLAYING PERCUSSION MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Filed May 12, 1958 INVENTOR. WAL TEK E. SODEKBERG 33 35 ATTORNEY United States Patent 0,

MALLET FOR PLAYING PERCUSSION i MUSICAL INSTRUMENT Walter E. Soderberg, Duluth, Minn. Application May 12, 1958, Serial No. 734,540 7 Claims. c1. 84-422) My invention relates to an improvement in a musical instrument and more particularly to mallets used with percussion musical instruments such as Vibraphone, xylophone, marimba and the like.

In playing the above mentioned instruments it is common to use two mallets in each hand in order to play two notes or keys simultaneously with each hand. On the above types of instruments the keys are so arranged that a spread of the mallet heads is needed or a closer relationship is needed. The keys of the above instruments are generally mounted in two rows, and sometimes the two rows are mounted on two levels, the sharp and flat row being slightly above and overlapping the natural row. In playing both rows the maneuvering of the mallets becomes increasingly di-fiicult and with such in mind it is an object of my invention to provide a pair of mallets mounted together as a unit and which are adjustable.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a mallet unit including a pair of mallets which are pivotal ly coilnected to allow a change of spread between the mallet heads and which are adjustable in length one with the other.

It is still another object to provide a pair of mallets which may be easily held in the operators hand and the spread between the mallet heads and also the length of the mallets easily changed by a simple manipulation whereby chords may be played in a manner hitherto impossible. My construction allows the playing of certain chords without the need for crossing mallets or the placing of one hand under the other.

It is also an object to provide a mallet unit which allows all open chords to be hammered parallel which does away with any awkwardness generally accompanying such type of playing. In addition, with my device closed chords may be opened so that all members of the chord are spread or partially so.

I shall not here attempt to set forth and indicate all of the various objects and advantages incident to my invention, but other objects and advantages will be referred to in or else will become apparent from that which follows.

The invention will appear more clearly from the following detailed description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, showing by way of example a preferred embodiment of the inventive idea wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout.

In the drawings forming part of this application:

Figure 1 is a view of the mallet unit shown as held in the operators hand for use.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal front view thereof with a portion of the mallet rods broken away and an alternative position of the mallets shown in broken lines.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal side view of the unit with an alternative position of the mallets shown in broken lines.

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 44 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a side elevational view of one of the mallet heads.

, 2 Figure 6 is an enlarged sectional view on the line 6-6 of Figure 5. I

Referring to the drawings in detail, my mallet unit A includes the elongated prime rod IO and-the secondary rod 11 which are slidably mounted in the elongated cylindrical supports 12 and '1-3 respectively. The cylindrical support 12 has formed in a portion of the wall thereof the elongated slot 14 in which the pin 15 may be slidably moved, The pin' 15 is secured tothe rod 10 and extends through the slot 14 and has secured on the outer end thereof the small knob 16 which is easily engaged by the operators thumb, as shown in Figure l, for moving the rod 10' within the support 12' to selectively change the length of the rod 10 and the rod 11 as will be hereinafter set forth.

The numeral 17 designates a connector member which:

mounts the cylindrical supports 12 and 13' together, and

the connector 17 includes the two identical half portions 18 and 19. The half portion 18 includes the center bar portion 20 and extending from one end are the ears 21 and from the other end the ear 22. The half portion 19 includes the center bar portion 23 and extending from one end are the ears 24 and from the other end the cars 25'. Further provided is the plate member 26 which is pivotally mounted at its upper end between the bar portions 20 and 23 of the connector half portions 18 and 19 by means of the pin 27 connected to the portions 20 and 23. The cylindrical supports 12 and 13 are each formed with a; small opening 28 in the wall thereof which receives the riveted end of the pin 27 whereby the bar portions 20 and v 23 may fit closely to the cylindrical supports 12 and 13 respectively and allow the rods 10 and 11 to slide freely with-inthe supports 12 and 13 respectively. With the rivetedends of the pin :27 extending into the openings or recesses 28 of the bar portions 26 and 23 of the connector half portions 18 and 19, movement of the half portions 18 and 19 upon the supports 12 and 13 is prohibited. The ear portions 21 and 22 of the connector half portion 18 are curved upon the cylindrical support 12 to secure the same thereon, and similarly the ear portions 24 and 25 of the connector half portion 19 are curved upon the support 13 to secure the same thereon.

The lower end of the pivoted plate 26 has formed therein the slot 29, which provides the spaced ears 29 and rotatably mounted within the slot 29 by means of the pin 30 is the small sheave 31. The pin 30 is secured at its ends to the ears 29'.

I further provide the end member 32 secured to the lower end of the rod 10 which is formed with a small slot 33 adapted to receive the knotted end of the cord 34. The cord 34 extends upwardly over the sheave 31 and then downwardly where the other knotted end thereof is engaged in the slot 35 of the end member 36 fastened to the lower end of the rod 11. The numeral 37 designates a coil spring which is mounted on the lower portion of the rod 11 compressed slightly between the lower end portion 38 of the support 13 and the upper edge of the end member 36 thereby urging the end member downwardly and pulling upwardly on the rod 10 through the sheave-mounted cord 34. As a result the pin 15 is brought to bear against the upper shoulder end of the slot 14, and the mallets normally assume the position illustrated in the Figures l-3 in full lines. As the knob 16 is pulled downwardly in the slot 14, the cord 34 pulls upwardly upon the lower end of the rod 11 against the compres sion of the spring 37 thereby changing the relative position of the rods 10 and 11 and the head members 39 and 40 respectively, mounted thereon. The head members 39 and 40 are identical and each has extending therefrom the rod portion 41 which is formed with the intersecting slits 42 and 43. A small member, such as 44,

Patented Sept. 22, 1959 is inserted at the intersection of the slits 42 and 43 to spread slightly the portions formed by the slits for positive frictional engagement with hollow upper ends of the rods and 11 to thereby removably mount the head members 39 and 40 on the rods 10 and 11 respectively.

The slot 14 of the support 12 has formed substantially centrally on the one edge thereof the small notch 45 into which the pin 15 may be temporarily slipped and in such position the mallet heads are directly opposite each other in what may be called a neutral position. As a result of the notch 45 the operator can quickly and easily find or feel the neutral position without looking at the unit.

The invention is not to be understood as restricted to the details set forth since these may be modified within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a mallet unit used in playing a percussion musical instrument, a cylindrical sleeve, a first rod slidably mounted in said sleeve, a second sleeve having a second rod slidably mounted therein, means pivotally connecting said sleeves, a sheave mounted on said connecting means, a cord connected to the lower end of said first rod, and passed over said sheave and connected to the lower end of said second rod, spring means urging said second rod downwardly in said second sleeve and said first rod upwardly in said first sleeve and means for selectively moving said first rod in said first sleeve whereby said second rod is moved in said second sleeve simultaneously.

2. In a mallet unit used in playing a percussion musical instrument, means carrying a pair of rods in slidable re lationship one to the other, a cord secured to the end of the first of said rods and passed over said carrying means with the free end secured to the lower end of the second of said rods, means urging said rods in opposed directions, and means for moving said first rod to thereby simultaneously move said second rod in relation thereto.

I 4 3. The device of claim 2 including means for limiting the upward movement of said first rod.

4. In a mallet unit used in playing a percussion musical instrument, a pair of sleeves pivotally connected, a rod member slidably mounted in each of said sleeves, means for urging said rod members in opposed direction, and means for moving one of said rods against the action of said urging means to thereby change the relative position of the rods.

5. The device of claim 4 including means for limiting the slidable movement of said rod members.

6. In a mallet unit used in playing a percussion musical instrument, a pair of rods, means for slidably mounting said rods in side-by-side relationship, means pivotally connecting said mounting means, means for urging said rod members in opposed directions, and means for moving one of said rods against the action of said rod urging means to thereby change the relative position of the rods.

7. In a mallet unit used in playing a percussion musical instrument, a pair of sleeves, means pivotally connecting said sleeves, a plate pivotally mounted on said connecting means, a sheave mounted on said plate, a rod slidably mounted in each of said sleeves, a cord connected at one end to the lower end of one of said rods and passed over said sheave with the other end of said cord connected to the lower end of the other of said rods, means for urging said rods in opposed directions, one of said sleeves having a slot formed therein, a pin secured to the rod mounted in said slotted sleeve and extending through said slot whereby the rod may be moved, said movement also causing said other rod to be moved in said other sleeve.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,761,245 Vitto June 3, 1930 1,876,870 Dollhopf Sept. 13, 1932 2,791,930 Soderberg May 14, 1957 l r l s t 

